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Broid · 21 June 2009, 06:33 AM

Hi, new to the community and looking for some help with an old Rolex I inherited. This watch was purchased by my father's uncle at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore in 1968 or 69. The original paperwork has the number 1769895 punched into it. What can you tell me about it? How can I clean it? Is there anywhere in the SF Bay area of Calif. where I can get it serviced or the crystal replaced? Could the crystal have the scratches buffed out? It's a lovely watch that seems to be working fine, but it could use a good cleaning. Any info on this would be helpful and interesting.

Thanks you in advance,
Brian

SLS · 21 June 2009, 06:52 AM

Welcome to the forum!
I am guessing its a ref # 1601? I would get a full service done on this watch, there is a mini Rolex Service Center in SF, here is the address.
San Francisco RSC
210 Post Street # 705
San Francisco, CA 94108
415-982-9838

Congrats on a great piece!
FWIW, keep the dial and hands in tact, you may want to opt to buy an additional bracelet...but keep the old one.
Scott

dentman · 21 June 2009, 07:25 AM

It's a 1603... 1601 has white gold bezel. See old catalogue scan

dentman · 21 June 2009, 07:28 AM

This is similar age 1601

SLS · 21 June 2009, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dentman

It's a 1603... 1601 has white gold bezel. See old catalogue scan

Isn't the OP's pic of a WG bezel?

Scott

dentman · 21 June 2009, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLS

Isn't the OP's pic of a WG bezel?

Scott

No, that's steel. Further clarification below.

SLS · 21 June 2009, 07:40 AM

OK, so the bezel is the only tell tale sign that its a 1603? Learned something new today!

Scott

dentman · 21 June 2009, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLS

OK, so the bezel is the only tell tale sign that its a 1603? Learned something new today!

Scott

That's the tell-tale. For the record that type of bezel is referred to as Engine-Turned!

SLS · 21 June 2009, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dentman

That's the tell-tale. For the record that type of bezel is referred to as Engine-Turned!

I knew that it was engine turned, but I had now idea that it separated the SS from the WG, again thanks!

Scott

crombie · 21 June 2009, 07:47 AM

Congrats on the watch, it will look nice when cleaned up!

Broid · 21 June 2009, 09:15 AM

Awesome! Thanks for all the help. Nice forum. I'll check out the service center in the city. It's nice to have a watch that I could never afford to buy for myself! The family history makes it even more important. Dad's uncle bought it, gave it to Dad, Dad, now gone, gave it to me...

Thanks again,
Brian

pz93c · 21 June 2009, 03:51 PM

Yo, Brian.

Congrats on the fine piece. My DateJust looks alot like that one.

I have to recommend Dalton Toledo out of LA. He is a fine, upstanding member of this forum and an outstanding watchmaker. Prices are less than the RSC, too.

Email him at daltonrt@yahoo.com and see what he says.

Robbie · 25 June 2009, 01:22 AM

proficiat Brian, you have awesome heritage, that's 1603 with fluted bezel in stainless steel caliber 1570 (durable caliber) is the most popular rolex in the name DATEJUST, cause can look dreassy and sporty in the same time.

the dial has unique, that's without luminous markings as usually, the shape of dial likely pie pan

Robbie

roomsei@yahoo.co.id

Dalton · 25 June 2009, 01:40 AM

Hey almost identical to a watch I'm currently restoring. Let me know if you need a resto-job on that watch. I'm in california too.

Broid · 25 June 2009, 03:24 AM

Thanks again for all the help everyone. I live about 20 minutes from SF so I'll go the the RSC there. Can't wait to get this watch fully restored, although I am a bit afraid of the cost of doing so! I'll try to let you know...
Brian

pz93c · 25 June 2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dalton

Hey almost identical to a watch I'm currently restoring.

Dalton,

I know. It's mine.

onkyo · 25 June 2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pz93c

Dalton,

I know. It's mine.

Hey Dalton, stop surfing this forum and get back to work on Brian's watch.

Lol-x · 25 June 2009, 10:25 PM

I suspect that Rolex SanFran will put a high price on the restoration of that watch.

I second Dalton as a good value restoration alternative, good luck with whatever works for you

pz93c · 26 June 2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onkyo

Hey Dalton, stop surfing this forum and get back to work on Brian's watch.

Thanks for the backup, Pav.

rsmithor · 26 June 2009, 02:00 PM

Also try
Watchworks/Alex & Co Jewelers
711 SW 10th Ave Portland, OR 97205-2518 - (503) 223-1368
Open Weekdays 10am-5:30pm; Sat 10am-4pm
They deal in vintage and new Rolex watches... and have one of the few Rolex calibration machines on the west coast... plus there is no sales tax in Oregon
They did fine work on my vintage Pespi GMT Rolex...

21 June 2009, 06:52 AM	#2
SLS "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Real Name: Scott Location: GMT -7 Watch: GMT's & Sub's Posts: 10,399	Welcome to the forum! I am guessing its a ref # 1601? I would get a full service done on this watch, there is a mini Rolex Service Center in SF, here is the address. San Francisco RSC 210 Post Street # 705 San Francisco, CA 94108 415-982-9838 Congrats on a great piece! FWIW, keep the dial and hands in tact, you may want to opt to buy an additional bracelet...but keep the old one. Scott __________________ "The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of lower price is forgotten." -Benjamin Franklin Member No. 922

21 June 2009, 07:40 AM	#7
SLS "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Real Name: Scott Location: GMT -7 Watch: GMT's & Sub's Posts: 10,399	OK, so the bezel is the only tell tale sign that its a 1603? Learned something new today! Scott __________________ "The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of lower price is forgotten." -Benjamin Franklin Member No. 922

25 June 2009, 01:22 AM	#13
Robbie Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Indonesia Watch: 14000m, 6694, 6518 Posts: 29	awesome heritage proficiat Brian, you have awesome heritage, that's 1603 with fluted bezel in stainless steel caliber 1570 (durable caliber) is the most popular rolex in the name DATEJUST, cause can look dreassy and sporty in the same time. the dial has unique, that's without luminous markings as usually, the shape of dial likely pie pan Robbie roomsei@yahoo.co.id

25 June 2009, 10:25 PM	#18
Lol-x Facilitator Join Date: Nov 2005 Real Name: Steve Location: Omnipresent Posts: 33,240	I suspect that Rolex SanFran will put a high price on the restoration of that watch. I second Dalton as a good value restoration alternative, good luck with whatever works for you __________________ *Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.* ~Abraham Lincoln Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride. ~John F. Kennedy ROLEXploitation - yeah I'm a victim

21 June 2009, 07:47 AM	#10
crombie "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 246	Congrats on the watch, it will look nice when cleaned up!

21 June 2009, 09:15 AM	#11
Broid "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: California, USA Posts: 3	Awesome! Thanks for all the help. Nice forum. I'll check out the service center in the city. It's nice to have a watch that I could never afford to buy for myself! The family history makes it even more important. Dad's uncle bought it, gave it to Dad, Dad, now gone, gave it to me... Thanks again, Brian

21 June 2009, 03:51 PM	#12
pz93c "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Real Name: Brian Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 2,776	Yo, Brian. Congrats on the fine piece. My DateJust looks alot like that one. I have to recommend Dalton Toledo out of LA. He is a fine, upstanding member of this forum and an outstanding watchmaker. Prices are less than the RSC, too. Email him at daltonrt@yahoo.com and see what he says.

25 June 2009, 01:40 AM	#14
Dalton TechXpert Join Date: Mar 2008 Real Name: Dal Location: Seattle Watch: 168000 Posts: 1,614	Hey almost identical to a watch I'm currently restoring. Let me know if you need a resto-job on that watch. I'm in california too.

25 June 2009, 03:24 AM	#15
Broid "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: California, USA Posts: 3	Thanks again for all the help everyone. I live about 20 minutes from SF so I'll go the the RSC there. Can't wait to get this watch fully restored, although I am a bit afraid of the cost of doing so! I'll try to let you know... Brian

26 June 2009, 02:00 PM	#20
rsmithor Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Real Name: Ronald E Smith Location: Portland OR USA Watch: Rolex GMT (Pepsi) Posts: 17	Also try Watchworks/Alex & Co Jewelers 711 SW 10th Ave Portland, OR 97205-2518 - (503) 223-1368 Open Weekdays 10am-5:30pm; Sat 10am-4pm They deal in vintage and new Rolex watches... and have one of the few Rolex calibration machines on the west coast... plus there is no sales tax in Oregon They did fine work on my vintage Pespi GMT Rolex...

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